The funding includes nearly $823 million allocated through USAID, with over $202 million sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation. An additional $186 million will be provided by the U.S. Department of State
United States President Joe Biden has pledged over $1 billion in additional humanitarian assistance to address food insecurity and other urgent needs across 31 African nations. This announcement was made during President Biden’s visit to Angola and underscores the U.S. commitment to supporting refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and affected communities.
The funding includes nearly $823 million allocated through USAID, with over $202 million sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Commodity Credit Corporation. An additional $186 million will be provided by the U.S. Department of State.
At the 2022 US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, President Biden reaffirmed the U.S. dedication to accelerating progress toward food security in partnership with African nations. This initiative also addresses the immediate and acute food insecurity crisis through robust humanitarian assistance.
“Africa is the region with the largest percentage of the population facing hunger,” noted a USAID statement. “According to the UN, one in five Africans—almost 300 million people—faced hunger in 2023, and the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition continues to rise. Armed conflict, extreme weather events, natural disasters, and other emergencies are driving these humanitarian needs. Today’s announcement demonstrates our firm commitment to stand alongside our African partners in tackling food insecurity.”
The additional funding—including resources from the bipartisan National Security Supplemental—will support U.S. humanitarian partners in delivering life-saving aid and essential programs for vulnerable populations, including refugees, IDPs, and affected communities.
This aid will extend beyond food assistance, providing emergency health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to prevent disease outbreaks. It will also help meet critical needs such as mental health support, education, protection, and shelter for those affected by acute food insecurity and malnutrition. The Commodity Credit Corporation funding will enable USAID to purchase, ship, and distribute U.S. agricultural commodities from American farmers to support food-insecure populations in East and Central Africa.
“The United States has long been a steadfast supporter of communities in need of food aid and lifesaving humanitarian assistance across Africa,” the USAID statement added. “In Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. provided nearly $6.6 billion in humanitarian assistance across sub-Saharan Africa, but addressing critical and increasing needs requires the entire international donor community to step up.”
This initiative represents another milestone in the U.S.’s efforts to alleviate hunger and bolster resilience across Africa, emphasizing the need for collective action to combat a historic food insecurity crisis.
